But look at it from their point of view. Even if the dental problems are a bit of a manufactured excuse--and this very well could be real, painful thing!--Tanith and Ben have every right to pace themselves before an Olympics so they're not throwing away their chances. Really, what do they owe us? We get to see plenty of good skaters regardless--even if we have to watch the Russians with the bad costumes--and it is hoped we get to see B/A at the Olympics in a few months. They're not shortchanging their country in any way; they're not jeopardizing the number of spots we'll get next year. They're not doing anything except protecting themselves, either physically or just their reputations, and more power to them for that. They have worked like dogs for years, and have given the U.S. its first Olympic ice dancing medal since I think 1976. I think their credit is good.

It's great when you get a trouper like Stojko, who shows up whether he's half dead with pain. (I'll never forget that medal presentation at the Olympics, where they had to put a carpet on the ice so he could limp to the podium in shoes. Never!) But this isn't the Olympics. It isn't even a Nationals or a Worlds. I'm sure they'll do right by us at Vancouver. (Gee, wouldn't it be great if we had a North American sweep in ice dance? Start crossing fingers now!)

But look at it from their point of view. Even if the dental problems are a bit of a manufactured excuse--and this very well could be real, painful thing!--Tanith and Ben have every right to pace themselves before an Olympics so they're not throwing away their chances. Really, what do they owe us?

I am not sure exactly who they owe it to, but what they owe is telling the truth, keeping their word, fulfilling their contract, doing what they have promised.

B/A withdrawal is no big deal they are certainly not the first skaters to pull out. Back in the day Michelle and Sasha especially Michelle took a lot of flak for not competing in the GP events. Those withdrawals did not make me less of a fan of Michelle or Sasha and I will give B/A the same consideration.

It seems to me that B/A are almost always pulling out of the GPF for one reason or another? I don't think this is the first time, anyway. With the timing, I can understand the skepticism. But, do agree that they don't owe "us" anything, they only owe it to themselves to take care of their health, and as athletes to be in peak from for the most important competition. Best of luck...

with all the cheating going on -or whatever figure skating fans call it/judges call.
i don't care.
is it bogus -who knows and who cares.
does it really matter no--skaters do what they want anyway-
as far as owing us--yes in a sense -for expectation of being there as to the reason we watch /buy the ticket/sell for sponsorship -but us owe us personnally no--yes her health should be first--so get well-in other words pull the tooth.

I may be in the minority here, but I don't have a problem with skaters withdrawing from the Grand Prix Final, if they think it's not in their interest for health-logistical-strategic-or other reasons. I have always thought it was an overly-contrived, semi-bogus competition and not worthy of being taken in the same serious vein as country Nationals, Euros, FCC, Worlds, Olympics. Even the component GP events are arguably more important than the Final, as those are the best early season opportunity for top skaters to present new programs in front of judges and audiences...and make adjustments as necessary. Of all the competitions, the Final is probably the most easily "sacrificed" even though there is prize money involved (not that much though except for top 1-2 finishers). The formalization of and adding a Final to the original GP series was pretty much an ISU concoction to benefit itself rather than the skaters.

It doesn't help the non-Asian and especially the North American skaters, that once again the GPF is in East Asia (5th time in 10 years and 2nd year in a row). Adding up travel, recovery, pre-competition, competition, return, recovery, and you pretty much blow about 10 days of your life where you lose productive training time. Not to mention having to deal with long-haul transpacific 11-12+ hour flights and the risk of picking up illness during the travel, in a very bad flu season year. If Tanith and her dentist felt now is the time to tend to her tooth, so be it. If there was an ulterior motive such as wimping out in the face of D/W and V/M, so be that too. They'll all meet up soon enough.

(PS to above: Michelle DID skate the GP series for many years and then decided enough was enough around 2002, except for stepping in at SA on some occasions as a fill-in. ISU didn't like it but by that point, MK could pretty much pick her involvement in competitions.)

The term was "infected" not impacted. There's a difference and infection can happen quickly. IIRC it did say she'd been trying to control it with antibiotics without success. Been there done that myself - and those who say it hurts like b***h are spot on!

I don't think strategy has anything to do with it. After all, those three teams trained together for years. The GPF would've been a great place for all of them to test their relative skills and placement so each would know better what they have to concentrate on for February. I'm quite sure as competitors they'd rather know now than find out in Vancouver.

Infected and impacted are not mutually exclusive so we don't really know for sure. In any case the timing of this abcess is suspect because the possibility of losing in Japan could impact B&A's chances of winning back their national title and their chances for Olympic gold. If they don't compete at the GPF, there's zero chance of losing. The only problem would be if by some chance DW win in Japan.

I've had dental surgery where I had all my wisdom teeth yanked, after chronic infections from them being impacted that lasted years. At no point did any of the doctors involved told me to avoid strenuous activity after the surgery. And in fact, the aesthesia wore off in a day and I was back to normal and feeling better than ever. Now, either my doctors were horribly negligent, or Belbin's is being overly-cautious, or she's lying. Unlike Phil Hersh (at least with his current personality), I don't have a problem with calling out an athlete for being full of bovine offal. If she does go to skate and drops dead as a result of the strenuous activity rupturing her jaw or something, eh, I'll send some flowers to her funeral.

snip
(PS to above: Michelle DID skate the GP series for many years and then decided enough was enough around 2002, except for stepping in at SA on some occasions as a fill-in. ISU didn't like it but by that point, MK could pretty much pick her involvement in competitions.)

I know she did and an I watched every televised GP event that she competed in.

I've had dental surgery where I had all my wisdom teeth yanked, after chronic infections from them being impacted that lasted years. At no point did any of the doctors involved told me to avoid strenuous activity after the surgery. And in fact, the aesthesia wore off in a day and I was back to normal and feeling better than ever. Now, either my doctors were horribly negligent, or Belbin's is being overly-cautious, or she's lying. Unlike Phil Hersh (at least with his current personality), I don't have a problem with calling out an athlete for being full of bovine offal. If she does go to skate and drops dead as a result of the strenuous activity rupturing her jaw or something, eh, I'll send some flowers to her funeral.

Really?? I would say that your doctor misinformed you then - you are at least supposed to avoid physical activity, heavy lifting, etc. for a couple days. I don't think it is unreasonable for an oral surgeon to suggest an athlete avoid training for 6 hours a day until a week later.

Wisdom teeth are tricky things - I was laid up for a week and didn't feel back to normal until two weeks later - as I said before. You are the first person that I have heard that was back to normal the next day.